(IRON DOME EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING) S.
2648: Introduced 7/23 by Mikulski (D-MD), “A bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other purposes.” On 7/24, placed on Senate Legislative
Calendar under General Orders. In a 7/23
floor statement, Mikulski noted that the bill will “strengthen Israel's Iron Dome and add $225 million
to replenish the antimissile defense system, saving lives by shooting down Hamas rockets, helping our essential
ally Israel…” She added that “The funding is needed now to replenish a key part of the missile defense
system, replace Iron Dome artillery. Israel has already used a great deal of its assets dealing with the more than
2,000 Hamas rockets aimed at Israel. Israel has the right to self-defense. We are helping them have what they need
to intercept 90 percent of the rockets.” Gillibrand (D-NY) and Kirk (R-IL) press release on the Iron Dome
funding is
here. Mikulski press release is here;
summary of supplemental funding is
here. From the media: U.S.
Senate sets $225 million for Israel's Iron Dome in emergency bill (Reuters 7/22); Israel asks U.S. for $225 million to replace
missing Iron Dome parts (Haaretz 7/23)

(SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL) H. Res. 657:
Introduced 7/8 by Israel (D-NY) and having 166 cosponsors when it was brought to the floor for a vote,
“Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding United States support for the State of Israel as
it defends itself against unprovoked rocket attacks from the Hamas terrorist organization.” Passed 7/11
without objection. This resolution was backed strongly by AIPAC (see
here). Press release from Reps. Israel (D-NY) and Cole (R-OK) on introduction of the resolution is
here; their press release celebrating its passage is
here. Royce (R-CA) statement applauding passage of the resolution is here.

(SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL)S. Res.
498: Introduced 7/10 by Graham (R-SC) and having 79 cosponsors when it was brought to the floor for a
vote, “A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding United States support for the State of Israel as
it defends itself against unprovoked rocket attacks from the Hamas terrorist organization.” Passed 7/17
by Unanimous Consent. This resolution was backed strongly by AIPAC (see
here). Press releases on introduction of the resolution are here, here, and
here. Graham press release on passage of
the resolution is
here.

(SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL) S. Res. 517:
Introduced 7/24 by Graham (R-SC) and 5 cosponsors, “A resolution expressing support for Israel's right to defend
itself and calling on Hamas to immediately cease all rocket and other attacks against Israel.” Referred to
the Committee on Foreign Relations. As of this writing, this resolution does not appear (yet) on the AIPAC
website). Text of the resolution is available here.

(CONCERN FOR CHILDREN ON BOTH SIDES) H. Res.
665: Introduced 7/10 by McKinley (D-WV) and having 25 cosponsors, “Condemning the murder of Israeli
and Palestinian children in Israel and the ongoing and escalating violence in that country.” Referred
to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. McKinley press release here.

(DENOUNCING HAMAS FOR USING “HUMAN SHIELDS”)H. Con. Res. 107: Introduced 7/16 by
Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and having 57 cosponsors, “Denouncing the use of civilians as human shields by Hamas and other
terrorist organizations in violation of international humanitarian law.”
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. This resolution is backed strongly by AIPAC (see
here), which makes the low number of cosponsors quite notable. Ros-Lehtinen and Deutch (D-FL) press
release on introduction of the resolution is
here.

(DENOUNCING HAMAS FOR USING “HUMAN SHIELDS”) S. Con. Res. 41: Introduced by
Cruz (R-TX) and Gillibrand (D-NY) 7/24, “A concurrent resolution denouncing the use of civilians as human shields
by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in violation of international humanitarian law.” Referred to the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As of this writing this resolution is not spotlighted on the AIPAC
website, but given that it appears to be a companion version of H. Con. Res. 107, it is likely that it soon
will. Text of the resolution is available here.

(REWARD FOR CATCHING PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS)HR 5041: Introduced 7/9 by Lamborn
(R-CO) and having 3 cosponsors, “To require the Secretary of State to offer rewards totaling up to $5,000,000 for
information on the kidnapping and murder of Naftali Fraenkel, a dual United States-Israeli citizen, that began on
June 12, 2014.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Lamborn press release
here.

(REWARD FOR CATCHING PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS) S. 2577: Introduced 7/9 by Cruz (R-TX)
and having 2 cosponsors, “A bill to require the Secretary of State to offer rewards totaling up to $5,000,000 for
information on the kidnapping and murder of Naftali Fraenkel, a dual United States-Israeli citizen, that began on
June 12, 2014.” Reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 7/16, with a report issued on
7/21 (here). On 7/21, placed
on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Cruz press release here.

(REWARD FOR CATCHING PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS) S. 2579: Introduced 7/9 by Cruz (R-TX)
(in addition to S. 2577), “A bill to require the Secretary of State to offer rewards totaling up to $5,000,000 for
information on the kidnapping and murder of Naftali Fraenkel, a dual United States-Israeli citizen, that began on
June 12, 2014.” On 7/10, read the second time and placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General
Orders.

(NO AID TO PALESTINIANS) S. Amdt
3477 to S. 2363: On 7/8 Paul
(R-KY) introduced an amendment to S. 2363, the “Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014.” The amendment seeks to
block any/all funding to the Palestinian Authority unless the PA has: “(1) formally recognized the right of Israel
to exist as a Jewish state; (2) publicly recognized the state of Israel; (3) renounced terrorism; (4)
purged all individuals with terrorist ties from security services; (5) terminated funding of anti-American and
anti-Israel incitement; (6) publicly pledged to not engage in war with Israel; and (7) honored previous
diplomatic agreements. The amendment, which appears to be entirely non-germane to the base bill, has not been
considered as of this writing.

(CALLING ON UN TO DENOUNCE “HUMAN SHIELDS”) Israel-
Ros-Lehtinen-Deutch-Cole letter: This week Reps. Israel (D-NY), Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Deutch
(D-FL) and Cole (R-OK) began seeking cosigners on a letter to the head of the UN Human Rights Council calling
on the council to condemn Hamas’ use of Palestinian civilians as “human shields.” The letter denounces the
UNHRC, noting that it “simply cannot be taken seriously as a human rights organization when it establishes a
commission of inquiry to unjustly probe alleged war crimes and violation of international law by the nation
defending its citizens from rocket attacks and terror tunnels, rather than the terrorist group whose depravity
makes a policy of using its citizens [as human shields while its terror commanders flee to fortified bunkers.”
Press release on the letter is
here.

(CALLING ON UN TO DENOUNCE “HUMAN SHIELDS”) Boxer letter: On 7/18, Senator
Boxer (D-CA) sent a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights decrying Hamas’ tactic of using “human
shields.”

(NO CEASEFIRE BEFORE ALL THREATS ARE ELIMINATED) Graham-Schumer-Cardin letter: On 7/23,
Senators Graham (R-SC), Schumer (D-NY) and Cardin (D-MD) sent a letter to President Obama expressing their “strong
belief that any viable cease fire in Gaza must remove the threat to Israel posed by Hamas rockets and
tunnels. Any cease fire should create a situation in which Israeli citizens no longer face the threat of
brazen terrorist attacks.”

(CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE) Ellison
et al letter: On 7/17, Reps. Ellison (D-MN), Moran (D-VA), Conyers (D-MI), Johnson (D-GA), Lee (D-CA)
and Lowenthal (D-CA) sent a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry urging them to redouble efforts
to “urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders to come to a cease-fire agreement. The United States can help save
Israeli and Palestinian lives by using all diplomatic leverage to work vigorously with U.S. allies to urge for an
end to the violence. Media reports indicate that the parties were close to a cease-fire, however no agreement has
been reached and violence persists. We commend efforts to facilitate a cease-fire and support Israel’s willingness
to agree to the terms of the agreement. We urge the Administration to continue its efforts to facilitate an
agreement that will engage and gamer support from all parties involved in this cycle of violence…”
Ellison press release is
here. Also see:
Liberal Democrats push Gaza cease-fire, new peace talks (Al-Monitor, 7/18)

(ADMONISHING UNSYG FOR COMMENTS ON ISRAEL) Ayotte-Cardin-Rubio-Kirk-Graham letter:
On 7/23, Senators Ayotte (R-NH), Cardin (D-MD), Rubio (R-FL), Kirk (R-IL) and Graham (R-SC) sent a letter to
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon conveying their “strong objections” to his “comments on July 20 describing
Israel's military operations in Gaza as an ‘atrocious action.’” The Senators admonish the UNSYG for having
“failed to recognize an important fact: in this conflict, one side is trying to protect civilians while the other
is deliberately trying to kill them. Israel is undertaking extraordinary efforts to avoid civilian casualties while
Hamas cynically uses other Palestinians as human shields and attempts to deliberately kill Israeli civilians…”

(MORE IRAN SANCTIONS) S.
2585: Introduced 7/10 by Kirk (R-IL) and Rubio (R-FL) (with Hatch jumping on board on 7/15), “A bill
to impose additional sanctions with respect to Iran to protect against human rights abuses in Iran, and for other
purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Kirk press release on the bill here. Kirk press release here.

(NO WAIVER OF SANCTIONS) S. 2667:
Introduced 7/24 by Kirk (R-IL) and an all-GOP line-up of 6 cosponsors, “A bill to prohibit the exercise of
any waiver of the imposition of certain sanctions with respect to Iran unless the President certifies to Congress
that the waiver will not result in the provision of funds to the Government of Iran for activities in support of
international terrorism, to develop nuclear weapons, or to violate the human rights of the people of Iran.”
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

(CONDITIONS ON WAIVER OF IRAN SANCTIONS) S.
Amdt.3652 to S. 2569: On 7/24,
Sen. Kirk (R-IL) and an all-GOP line-up of 7 cosponsors offered an Iran sanctions amendment to the “Bring Jobs Home
Act.” The amendment seeks to bar the President from waiving sanction on Iran “in connection with the extension of
the terms of the Joint Plan of Action beyond July 20, 2014” unless he certifies to Congress that such a waiver will
not facilitate the ability of the Iranian government to provide support for various specified evil-doers or “to
advance the efforts of Iran or any other country to develop nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles overtly or
covertly” or to “commit any violation of the human rights of the people of Iran.”

(ON THE EXTENSION OF TALKS) H. Con. Res.
109: Introduced 7/23 by Franks (R-AZ) and Lipinski (D-IL), “Expressing the sense of Congress relating
to extending the interim agreement with the Government of Iran regarding its nuclear program.” Referred to
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

(DANGER OF IRANIAN ICBMS) Ayotte-Rubio et al
letter: On 7/15 Senators Ayotte (R-NH) and Rubio (R-FL), along with an all-GOP list of 26 fellow
senators, sent a letter to President Obama expressing “serious concerns regarding Iran's development of
intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) that could be used to strike the United States.” The letter
concludes with the warning: “…We believe the administration should not conclude any nuclear accord
with Tehran without addressing the threat that Iranian ballistic missiles could pose to our nation.”

(PUTTING THE SQUEEZE ON HEZBOLLAH) HR
4411: Introduced 4/7 by Meadows (R-NC) and having 321 cosponosrs when it was borught up for a vote,
the “Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act of 2014.” Reported out of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee on 7/22 (report here);
brought to the floor 7/22 under suspension of the rules and passed by a vote of 404-0. Floor statement delivered on 7/22 are here. This bill was backed strongly by AIPAC
(see here).
Engel (D-NY) statement in support of the passage of the bill is here.

(LOBBYING SUPREME COURT ON JERUSALEM STATUS) S. Res. 504: Introduced 7/16 by Reid
(D-NV) and McConnell (R-KY), “A resolution to direct the Senate Legal Counsel to appear as amicus curiae in the
name of the Senate in Menachem Binyamin Zivotofsky, By His Parents and Guardians, Ari Z. and Naomi Siegman
Zivotofsky v. John Kerry, Secretary of State (S. Ct.).” Passed by the Senate 7/16 by Unanimous Consent.
Reid’s 7/16 statement on the resolution is here. NOTE: APN submitted an Amicus
Curiae brief to the Supreme Court, in the context of its previous consideration of that case. APN’s brief –
making the case against the petitioners and in support of the Administration, is available here.)

(EGYPT) S. 2649: Introduced 7/23
by Graham (R-SC) and 4 cosponsors, “A bill to provide certain legal relief from politically motivated charges by
the Government of Egypt.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

(RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN MIDDLE EAST) S.653 : Introduced 3/22 by Blunt
(R-MO) and having 22 cosponsors when it was brought to a vote, the “Near East and South Central Asia Religious
Freedom Act of 2013.” On 7/10, passed by the Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.

(PUTTING THE SQUEEZE ON THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD) HR 5194: Introduced 7/24 by Bachmann (R-MN)
and 7 cosponsors, “To impose sanctions against persons who knowingly provide material support or resources to the
Muslim Brotherhood or its affiliates, associated groups, or agents, and for other purposes.” [Note: the
Muslim Brotherhood is NOT a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization; this legislation in effect seeks to
legally treat it as one]. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and
the Financial Services Committee. Bachmann 7/24 floor statement on the Muslim Brotherhood and related
issues is here.

(QATAR LABOR WOES) H. Res. 682:
Introduced by Miller (D-CA) and 17 cosponsors, “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding
worker protections in Qatar and the 2022 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup.”
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

4. Hearings

7/29: The Senate
Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “Iran: Status of the P-5+1.” Scheduled Panel
1 witnesses are Wendy Sherman, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs; and David Cohen, Under Secretary of
the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. Scheduled Panel 2 witnesses are: Gary Samore,
Harvard; Olli Heinonen, Harvard; and Michael Singh, WINEP.

7/29: The
House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “Iran Nuclear Negotiations: From Extension to
Final Agreement?” Scheduled witnesses Wendy Sherman, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs; and
David Cohen, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. The hearing notice
quotes HFAC Chairman Royce criticizing the extension of talks.

7/25:
The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia met to mark up H. Res. 665, condemning the murder of Israeli and
Palestinian children in Israel and the ongoing and escalating violence in that country; and H. Con. Res. 107, denouncing the use of
civilians as human shields by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in violation of international humanitarian
law. The committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) to H.
Con. Res. 107 (text here).

Given events of the past few weeks, Members of Congress have been all over the place making statements about
Israel, the Middle East, Iran, etc. Below is just a selection of statements, as found in the Congressional
Record and on the websites of Members of Congress. Statements are grouped loosely according to topic, rather
than simply laid out in chronological order.

Statements of solidary with/support for Israeli military action in Gaza -
House

Franks (R-AZ) 7/11 (appearing to call for US
military intervention to support Israel, and accusing Obama of “an unprecedented act of cowardice and betrayal”
for his “flushed and breathless rush to embrace terrorists launching rockets at Israeli children.”)

(Note: Given the sheer volume of reporting on Congress and Middle East-related issues over the past 3 weeks, it is
simply not possible to include an exhaustive compilation here. Below is only a brief selection of articles of
interest).